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    The Back Bay Fens

    4.1 (42 reviews)

    The Back Bay Fens Photos

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    Terry G.

    What an amazing space in the heart of urban Boston. My grandparents were amongst the original Back Bay residents who started what was in 1942, a WWII "Victory Garden" where locals grew fresh fruits and vegetables. Today, the Fens features lovely individual plots/gardens where locals can rent a space and grow whatever inspires them -flowers, plants, produce... Our favorite was the Herb & Medicinal Garden where all are welcomed to sit, relax and even indulge.

    Gee G.

    Very cute park, worth the visit if your up for a walk or would like to digest after a meal in back bay. Lovely Fujiko x fog installation when I went. Great timing as a New Yorker in Boston. Great park.

    The annual, Summer "Rose Garden Party" with all the roses in bloom and the best hats in Boston. PHOTO: Lynn Julian (Crisci)
    Lynn J.

    The most beautiful part of The Back Bay Fens is the Kelleher Rose Garden...OH, THE AROMA! Every rose bush and trellis features a plaque, stating it's name and personality. BEST DEAL: Attend the annual, Summer "Rose Garden Party" to catch all the roses in full bloom...and the best hats in Boston. I was gifted an "Honorable Mention" Hat Contest Winner (Lynn Julian) adorned with my own creation, which was made from a Schiaparelli hat base.

    Tarah H, Daniel S, and Jeffrey H taking a 2AM trip to The Fens after a night at Machine. Photo by Katie H.
    Jeffrey H.

    Hmmm...it seems the previous reviewers didn't know or didn't mention why this is a place to stay away from at night--it's for GAY SEX. Had always heard about 'The Fens' thru friends or thru my bored moments at work (moments being all day long) where I flip between Yelp and Craigslist. If you surf the M4M missed connections page, you'll be sure to find LOTS of sex stories where two or more dudes hooked up on a tree or in some reeds and want to meet up again. Leaving Machine on Friday night with fellow yelpers Katie, Daniel, and Tarah...I mentioned I had never been to The Fens. All of a sudden, we're walking down the street and entering the point of no return. My lovely Yelp friends forced me to walk ahead of them to basically "see what happens." I've mentioned before and I'll mention again I have a TERRIBLE irrational fear of zombies...and I felt surrounded by them as dozens of men lurked around staring me/us down. Walking along the paths, you'll be sure to see guys laying on the ground, standing right outside shrubs, or you can hear twigs snapping from inside the reeds. This was definitely an experience I'll never forget. I think my favorite part was when Daniel took me in for a 2nd tour of the park and forced me to walk on some path thru the reeds and toward the water. Suddenly he gets hit in the face by a hanging vine and almost falls, I freak out and notice I'm sinking into the mud (whilst wearing my lovely J Crew flip flops), and lastly look to my right and see two dudes lurking in the reeds right next to us. WE RAN. And not a moment too soon since as soon as we got back on the road, a police cruiser came flying in (THRU the park) with its spotlight and megaphone ordering people to zip up and go home! Come here during the day if you like parks. Come here at night if you like rando same sex male hook ups...or if you're curious to experience the national geographic special that this place is. Oh, and there are vegetable gardens that people rent plots to grow their own stuff...well...FYI...the men seem to enjoy using your pumpkin patches too so be sure to wash your vegetables. And my feet are still dirty even after 4 showers.

    Sean L.

    Not the cleanest... nor most visually appealing park in Boston. But one thing it boasts that the Common can not is its lack of crowds. With virtually zero tourists in your way... rules or logic be damned as it is right next to Fenway park and Landsdown Street. The Fens also has a gardening section maintained by various people who rent small plots for themselves. These touches of individual personality give our park the uniqueness that is Boston. The Fens is great for a stroll, taking in the War memorial, having a small picnic, or playing a game of frisbee. You're likely to see dozens of neighbors enjoying their options weekly, if not daily. The down side... what is the catch? It is minor but enough to warrant the loss of a star: WATCH OUT FOR GOOSE POO!

    Path around the Fens
    Sydney T.

    The Fens is one of my favorite places in the whole city. It's close to my school and close to my apartment, so it's great for getting away between classes, or after school for a run. This place is stunning in the fall - there are leaves of every color. I love running here because I get so distracted by the beauty that I forget I'm even doing a dreadful, tiring movement with my body. There's a couple of paths, some bridges to walk over, a memorial in the center, and a football/soccer field with a track around it. It's a scenic way to move between neighborhoods and a great place to just stroll! The only reason I deducted a star is the nighttime safety. I'm not sure if it's 100% accurate or not, but at Northeastern orientation, we were warned 40 times over not to go into the Fens at night. I guess it can be pretty dangerous.

    Victory Gardens in The Fens Boston

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    2 years ago

    I really large park in the middle of the city. I had a nice afternoon walk here. Would come again

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    14 years ago

    Pretty walk from NEU to Fenway Park. Lovely setting...

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    14 years ago

    this is an ok park but i wouldnt go out of my way to go here. nice but not as nice as i thought it would be

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    14 years ago

    One of the few parks that's likely more enjoyable from a distance as a distraction from nearby traffic than it is amidst the space itself.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Back Bay Fens

    Review Highlights - The Back Bay Fens

    . - Wind sprint around the track til I puked(it was lactic acid threshold training) - Entertaining my mom by taking her to the rose garden and Victory Garden

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    The Esplanade

    The Esplanade

    4.8
    (100 reviews)
    1.6 mi

    The Esplanade is always beautiful, it doesn't matter the season. This is the perfect time of year -…read morewell now thru Fall to visit. Winter is nice too but they lock up the bathrooms which can be annoying if you're taking a super long walk and trying to stay hydrated! If you're looking for something to do on the weekend, look no further. The park is so big - you can listen to music or maybe even see a movie at the Hatch Shell, have a picnic, hangout on the dock, or even have a beer at Night Shift. Oh and if you have kids, there are a few different playgrounds. Let's not forget, it's super dog friendly. Oh and get your cameras ready for various birds and sometimes turtles in the lagoon.

    The Esplanade was a revelation, one of the highlights of my trip to Boston!…read more We took the T-red, got off Charles/MGH and it was a short walk to the Esplanade, a few miles alongside Charles Rivers with beautiful views of the river, wild life, the bridge and the city! We went on a Saturday morning, locals were walking, jogging, sitting on a bench drinking their coffee. Teams were out in the water roving, a nice visual Boston cliche that you see in movies, but I got to see for real. You can walk for miles here, till you get to the BU Bridge in parallel with the beautiful houses of Beacon Hill. Nice nature, cute bridges, birds, peaceful spots to stop by and look at the water, enjoy a book or a coffee. Nice locals offered to take our photos and we enjoyed chatted with. Beautiful sculptures, clean restrooms, lots of greenery. Great spot for a picnic also. I am sure it's pretty here at sunset. I am sure they have events here as well. My husband regrets not knowing about it. He went to Boston University and walked the BU Beach and the Bridge, but wasn't aware of this part. He would have loved to come here for peaceful walks and some reading. We didn't want to leave. A must see place in Boston!

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    The Esplanade
    The Esplanade
    7/23/2024

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    7/23/2024
    Boston Common

    Boston Common

    4.4
    (556 reviews)
    1.8 mi

    I love well planned green spaces in the central areas of big cities, some of the most famous of…read morewhich are Central Park in NYC and of course, Boston Commons. Tonight after our dinner we enjoyed walking through here and Boston Public Gardens for a good 1.5 hrs catching up with our daughter. There was a growing crowd of happy people (families and children too) cheering the Iraq World Cup team who will play their first match tomorrow against Norway here in Boston. About a dozen Boston police were watching from the sidelines on their motorbikes and I prayed all would stay peaceful. Meanwhile, pedestrians, dog walkers, families were enjoying the fresh cool evening amidst the grandiose trees, lawns, ducks, fountains, and historic statues. If you're in the area, definitely stop by, and also check out the Boston Public Gardens, which are even more landscaped and welcoming!

    This review is separate from the Boston Public Gardens which is just across the street and pretty…read moremuch connected. Boston Commons is a normal urban park in some ways with a playground for kids, a pond, park benches, a carousel, baseball stadium, and food vendors. It's also part historic park with monuments including one of the 54th Civil War all black regiment, a plaque saying this is the oldest park in America and others. It's also a part of the Freedom Trail. There's also a small cemetery in the park. The park is both busy and relaxing. It's smaller than I expected but that may just be because it felt like I went through it quickly. Time flies when you are having fun so maybe distance does too. Boston Commons is a must stop on any trip to Boston.

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    We need Love
    We need Love
    7.4.2024
    7.4.2024
    Boston Common

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    The Lawn On D

    The Lawn On D

    4.0
    (172 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    While in Boston a family friend took us here. Two kids altogether had real fun, a pleasant place to…read morehangout with or without kids. Huge space with the swings (the ultimate thing in this park), ping pongs, corn holes, big screen... It was free admission when we were here and a lot of people were there on the swing, we had to wait for sometime for our turns, but it was fun. If your around this park, just stop by for a while and enjoy the swing. Parking was on street!

    Went to Lawn on D for the World Cup watch party, it was an unspectacular experience. It was very…read morecrowded which made watching the game great, there was a security checkpoint at the front. We attempted to book a table/cabana when we arrived through open table, it was a $50 deposit and $250 minimum for drinks, so great if you have a group that needs a communal place to sit. There are a few bars all serve different items, so depending on what you typically order you'll be going to different areas, which isn't that big of a problem because walking through lawn on D is absolutely beautiful. I would have liked a bigger beer for the price, but when going out you expect to pay more, I additionally saw other customers with Sun cruiser bucket mixed drinks. The seating here is minimal if you're coming on a crowded night, there's plenty if you arrive early or go at a calmer time, but during the World Cup seating was sparse. Food options are similar to a food truck/fast food vibe. If you are not kid friendly this is not the place for you.

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    Hanging out on the swings
    Hanging out on the swings
    The Lawn On D
    The Lawn On D

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    Arnold Arboretum

    Arnold Arboretum

    4.8
    (418 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    My daughter recommended us to visit this fantastic arboretum. It was super worthwhile! Just to get…read moreout of the city first a bit into a well-preserved and landscaped beautiful lush green space with evergreens and oaks and gardens. It's free every day! There's a visitor center, where they have clippings of flowers that are labeled for easy identification and appreciation. Also throughout the arboretum are little plaques identifying flora. We went up to see the view of Boston from Peter's Hill and walked alongside the blooming mountain laurel bushes. Walkable paths are asphalt or wood chips. We saw a wild turkey, several robins, and occasional people. Super glad we explored this wondrous place!

    It's been quite some time since i stopped by the arboretum. As a kid my grandma and mother used to…read moretake us there and take photos in the summer. I have some very good child memories here. They used to have hedge? Carvings of animals and stuff which was super cool. Didn't see that today but not sure, we didn't have time to check the whole arboretum. I think this place is so cool, there's families walking, roller blading, skating, biking etc dog walking you name it. It's clean in there so please keep it that way if visiting. There are ample signs of the types of trees, plants, and different zones. Porta potty available on the paths, resting chairs, benches and even spreads for a picnic. Friend had his wedding there not long ago. Easy commute from Forrest Hills train station on the orange line and walk up the street. Multiple gates to go in from, but main gate closed to cars at 4pm i think. The arboretum is closed at dusk. Beautiful walk on a beautiful day.

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    Fall time
    Fall time
    Arnold Arboretum
    Arnold Arboretum

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    The Back Bay Fens - parks - Updated June 2026

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